OT: bass amps... recommendations?

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5 Style

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The band that I'm currently in is pretty well set for gear, for all three of its members, with the one exception of a really great bass amp for the bass player. The bass player guy, is a multi-instrumentalist type and plays lots of things well. I would say that he's an excellent bass player, but because it hasn't been a main feature of his music, he hasn't really collected all of the gear that would make him sound as good as he can on that instrument. He's got a couple of really nice basses, but for amps he's currently unsung a kind of jury-rigged setup in our rehearsal space that's a small (too small) combo bass amp, a keyboard amp and sometimes even a little combo guitar amp as well... which is all slaved together and still sounds kind of weak. The sound quality is workable enough for rehearsing the band, but still leaves something to be desired. Because the guy has really only been a part time bass player, until playing bass in this band, he isn't really too knowledgeable about bass amplification.

This bass player guy, we'll call him "Andrew" (because that's actually his name!) is really the prime mover in our band, so that his bass playing is maybe the #1 feature of it. For that reason, I'd like to see him get something that's going to be really crisp sounding and show off all of the subtleties of what he does. Something that's more on the articulate side, rather than the kind of mega-low-bass type of thing that a reggae bass player might have. Something lighter too would be good as the guy has a bad back and doesn't want to carry any more than is necessary. I'm thinking of maybe one of those compact, but powerful modern class D amps...? Besides a compact, but powerful bass head, he's going to need some kind of cab and I wonder what would work for something small, but that's still is capable of some volume... Maybe a 2x12"? It doesn't need to be powerful enough to blast volume in a big outdoor field, but something that can have plenty of headroom to get a non-distorted sound in a small club. Something that's a fairly common brand, which might be found used in the local ads would be ideal. Any recommendations?
 
Fender Rumble 500. It's lightweight, fairly inexpensive, and sounds great. It has two 10" speakers and up to 500 watts if you add the Rumble 115 cab which is a single 15. Most bass players I've played with use the Rumble or two. Did I mention they're lightweight? I can lift it up with my pinky finger. If he needs more volume they also have the 800 watt model.
 
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Nope. A 4/10 is half as heavy and would work stellar in a smaller club. The 8/10 is commonly referred to as the fridge.
 
Nah. Just making a light-hearted comment. I'm waiting for a price range before making any suggestions. I've been a bass player for 45 years.
Skinsmannn said:
Are you a troll? Make a suggestion for an amp
Click to expand...
 
I would look a EBS new 502 combo, 2x10” drivers, 500 watt and possibility to extend with another cabinet too. Just over 15 kg.

Gallien-Krueger micro bass 150 would be a great alternative, unfortunately not made anymore but if used is ok, I’d take a look at that first. It also works very well for double bass w piezo mic and is well liked by many jazz double bass players for its smooth and clear tone and ease of transport, can also be extended with another cabinet.

Both have good eq sections and other functions built in.

Both offer an XLR output for easy hookup to a mixer/PA which works well in my experience - beefing up the bass sound if you already have the PA available.
 
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Our bass player got a Rumble for practice. Just the 100 watt one. It really sounds great and weighs nothing. The 500 would probably be perfect for on a med/large stage. I saw a couple in Nashville bars last week when I was there.
 
I use a Rumble made in the 2000's with a 15" in our rehearsal space. It sounds great. Bass is my primary instrument, I've used the Rumble 500, it sounds great, especially considering it doesn't weigh that much.

I play straight ahead rock, sometimes with a Precision sporting D'Addario Chromes (flats) or a Music Man Sabre with roundwound strings. I like amps that can achieve a vintage sound. A favorite of mine is the Aguilar Hammer 500. Goes well with a pair of their 12" cabs or a 12" and 15".
 
Any of those newer class d heads (Gallien-Krueger 800 watt are great) with a solid 2x10 cab with tweeter (tweeter you can turn off/attenuate if needed) will cover any gig and keep up no problem at band practice. 2x10 cabs are relatively inexpensive used.

I have an old GK 400rb head (not expensive used) with an awesome Baer cab (more expensive) that I love.

Those are my thoughts. My other thought is, all your praise for the bassist tells me the drummer is going to have a blast! Sounds like a great team!
 
Markbass would come to my mind, lightweight and articulate.

Darkglass is another option. Despite being known for their distortion circuits, their amps do the clean thing very well.

Both are not cheap.
 
I currently gig every weekend on bass. I like the head/cab route. D class amps are light. I also have a Markbass 3x10. Musicians Friend has a 15% off sale right now and one can had new for about $650.

I hear a lot of good things about the Rumble line but I’ve never used one. Last week at a gig the backline had an Ampeg Rocket Bass 500 - a 2x10 combo. Weighs about 40 pounds and sounded stellar. I’m actually trading a different Markbass cab for one today. If lightweight and solid are the key I’d recommend one. And new I think they’re also about $650.
 
5 Style said:
The band that I'm currently in is pretty well set for gear, for all three of its members, with the one exception of a really great bass amp for the bass player. The bass player guy, is a multi-instrumentalist type and plays lots of things well. I would say that he's an excellent bass player, but because it hasn't been a main feature of his music, he hasn't really collected all of the gear that would make him sound as good as he can on that instrument. He's got a couple of really nice basses, but for amps he's currently unsung a kind of jury-rigged setup in our rehearsal space that's a small (too small) combo bass amp, a keyboard amp and sometimes even a little combo guitar amp as well... which is all slaved together and still sounds kind of weak. The sound quality is workable enough for rehearsing the band, but still leaves something to be desired. Because the guy has really only been a part time bass player, until playing bass in this band, he isn't really too knowledgeable about bass amplification.

This bass player guy, we'll call him "Andrew" (because that's actually his name!) is really the prime mover in our band, so that his bass playing is maybe the #1 feature of it. For that reason, I'd like to see him get something that's going to be really crisp sounding and show off all of the subtleties of what he does. Something that's more on the articulate side, rather than the kind of mega-low-bass type of thing that a reggae bass player might have. Something lighter too would be good as the guy has a bad back and doesn't want to carry any more than is necessary. I'm thinking of maybe one of those compact, but powerful modern class D amps...? Besides a compact, but powerful bass head, he's going to need some kind of cab and I wonder what would work for something small, but that's still is capable of some volume... Maybe a 2x12"? It doesn't need to be powerful enough to blast volume in a big outdoor field, but something that can have plenty of headroom to get a non-distorted sound in a small club. Something that's a fairly common brand, which might be found used in the local ads would be ideal. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
I suggest a Fender Rumble. Light weight, great sound. Has everything he should need, including overdrive and 3 sound modes. I have a limited edition 100. I use it for my e-drums and love it. They come in other power versions.
 
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I had a Mesa Subway D-800 head with a pair of GK 2x10s. Great rig, even though the heads are not cheap. If you get the Neodymium speakers they are light as a feather. Also had a Fender Rumble 500. It was totally serviceable and cheaper than the Mesa/GK rig, but I preferred the Mesa tone over the Fender.
 
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I’m a big fan of Genzler. I love low end with pristine highs in bass amps and Genzler navigates both well. Some amps cover 1 range well. For example, Ampegs really excel in that low thump category, but I find them muddy in the highs. I would try to listen to as many as you can live. Good luck!

Genzler Amplification SERIES-2 MG350 BA10 1X10 4X2 350W Bass | Reverb

Genzler Amplification SERIES-2 MG350 BA10 1X10 4X2 350W bass-guitars Combo Amplifier Black - The Genzler Amplification MG350-BA10-COMBO-S2 is a combo kit offering the MG-350 amplifier, mountable to BA10-2-S2 cabinet using “hidden” MG-350-CRADLE, which can be mounted top surface of bass-guitars
reverb.com reverb.com
 
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